Prediction of O.G

Brew2Be · Oct 4, 2011

Hi everyone.
I received my first hydrometer today. I would like to know the approximate ABV. of my mead but since i did not have a hydrometer when i started the batch of mead i don't have an O.G. Does anyone know the approximate O.G of a must that is half water and half honey? That is what my mead consists of. The current gravity reading i took today told me that it is 1.060.

Thanks!

Insomniac · Oct 4, 2011

That can't be right, 50/50 water to honey? 2.5 Gallons of honey in a 5 gallon batch?
That would give you an OG of about 1.215, it would require huge amounts of effort to get it to start fermenting at all, and by my reconning would have killed off all the yeast before your SG of 1.06 (~19.5% ABV).

Brew2Be · Oct 4, 2011

Thanks for you reply! It is in a 3 liter container. I have added 1.3-1.5 kg of honey and the rest is water. I started off with only 400 grams of honey and added the rest when the fermentation halted. So i just assumed approximately half of it was honey.

Insomniac · Oct 4, 2011

Ah ok, thats better, 1.14 ish
Would go to about 18% if you used something like EC1118, I certainly wouldnt add any more!
What yeast did you use?

Brew2Be · Oct 4, 2011

Insomniac said:
Ah ok, thats better, 1.14 ish
Would go to about 18% if you used something like EC1118, I certainly wouldnt add any more!
What yeast did you use?

I used baker's yeast. It tastes like it has a kick to it! It's been going for around 16 days now.

MedsenFey · Oct 4, 2011

Insomniac said:
That can't be right, 50/50 water to honey? 2.5 Gallons of honey in a 5 gallon batch?

Actually this is exactly the amount of honey called for by Dwójniak style Polish meads. Generally you get there with step feeding because the starting gravity would choke the yeast.

AsianMead · Oct 5, 2011

My previous batch is same as yours, didn't took hydro before pitch yeast but the FG is came down to 1.050 and that is very sweet.

Insomniac · Oct 5, 2011

Bakers yeast can be very variable but usually stops at about 10%, you might want to get some champaign yeast to help finish it off other wise it will likely be incredibally sweet.